Sliding groove lock



May 9, 1939. J. H, ARKUS SLIDING GROOVE LOCK Filed Jan. 14, 1938 21 Frg- 6.

JAMES H AR/rus,

Ffq-

INVENTOR, BY W /7 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to looks for fastening devices for pocketbooks, handbags and the like, and has for its main object to provide a device of this character which will be extremely simple in construction, efficient and reliable in operation,

and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locking device of the type indicated in which a sliding member is provided in a channel or groove,

in one of the two elements to be releasably secured together, said sliding member having a depending portion adapted to engage or disengage an appropriate part in the other one of said two elements when sliding in one or in the other direction, respectively, in a slot or recess provided in the bottom of said channel.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent as the specification of the same proceeds.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification and accompanying the same:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of hinged frame members for a handbag, pocketbook, or the like, in a partly open position;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, the showing being on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 4. and 5 are side and end elevations, re-

spectively, of a sliding member used in my device;

while Figs. 6 and '7 are side elevation and plan view, respectively, of a fiat spring therein; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail showing a slot provided in the bottom of a channel in my device.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail,

by characters of reference, the numerals I0 and I 1 indicate the two frame members of a pocketbook, handbag, or the like, being hingedly joined, as

at l2, their construction and use being well known in this art. Each frame member Ill and Il may be bent into a channel shape, having outer identical branches Illa and I la over the inner branches l0 and II, each frame member preferably being bent out of one piece of sheet material, the interconnecting transverse portions of the frame channels being indicated at lb and 1 lb, respectively. This doubling of the frame members is not an essential part of my invention and is shown only as one form of my .device, and the outer doubled frame branches are applied only for better manufacturing, for more rigid construction, for ornamental purposes, and to facilitate the application of the frame members on a handbag, pocketbook, or the like. The upadapted to be used as a grip or catch for the operation of my look. In the central portion of the rail l4, a slot l9 of limited length is provided in the bottom 20 of the groove l5, and substantially opposite to the left end of the slot 15 I9 (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 8), an extension or nose 2| is arranged on the top of the frame member II.

When my device is assembled, the sliding member 16 is arranged over the slot l9, and in the 20 bottom part ll of said sliding member, a recessed portion 22 is provided, into which is set a downwardly curved fiat spring 23, having an extension or nose 24, substantially perpendicular to the curved surface thereof, as indicated in Figs. 2 25 to 7, and said nose 24 is projecting through the slot IS in the bottom of the rail l4 and is slidable in said slot.

The use and operation of my device is as follows: 30

When it is desired to open the handbag, pocketbook, or the like, the sliding member IE will be pushed to its rightward extreme position (as viewed in Fig. l) and in this situation, there is no obstacle against swinging the frame members 35 It and l l away fromone another on their pivots l2. When it is desired to fasten or look the frame members together, they will be closed upon one another, swinging on the pivot l2, and then the sliding member I6 will be moved leftwardly, in 40 the direction of arrow 25, up to the left limit of the slot 19, and in such a position the depending nose 24 on the spring 23 will engage and ride on the outer side 2| a of the nose 2|, on the frame member II and, in the final locking posi- 5 tion of the sliding member 16, said nose 24 will entirely overlap the nose 2| and thereby lock the frame members together.

It will be obvious that when the sliding member I6 is moved reversely, to the opposite limit 50 of slot I9, as has been mentioned hereinbefore, the two frame members will be released from one another, and it also will be obvious that for the successful operation of my device, the outer edge 2") of the nose 2| must be below the bot- 55 tom 20 of the rail l4 when the two frame members are closed on one another, and it must close on the frame member II] in such a tight manner that the depending nose 24 may pass over it (Fig. 3).

For an easier and gradual locking operation and for a better looking action, the outer side 2la of said nose 2| may be made rightwardly pointed and inclined, as indicated in Fig. l.

The assembly of the various parts of my sliding groove lock will be obvious to those versed in this art, I, however, desire to mention that the curved spring 23 may be inserted into the sliding member l6, with its depending nose 24 in the slot I9, in various manners. So, for instance, the depending member 24 may be equal or smaller in length than the height of the groove I5 and the spring may be forced into said groove l5 from one end thereof until it arrives over the slot I9, when the nose 24 may be allowed to drop into said slot and thereupon the sliding member I6 may be started from one end of the groove l5 and pushed towards the center until it will pass over the spring 23 and permit the same to snap into the recess 22 in the member I6. For the purpose of such operation, the forward and rearward ends, or possibly only one of them, of the sliding member l6, may be rounded, as indicated at 26.

Another method of inserting the spring 23 into the sliding member Hi with the depending nose 24 playing in the slot l9 may consist in forcing the spring 23 through the slot I9 from below, temporarily flattening the same into the plane of its nose 24, and thereafter allowing, or, with the use of a tool, forcing, the spring proper 23 to engage the widths of the groove I5 over the slot 19, while the nose 24 will remain in a depending position in said slot l9.

It also will be obvious that the plate or shank portion I8 of the sliding member l6 may be used as a base for ornaments, decorations, and to form a grip or catch for operating my lock, and that other forms of sliding members l6, rails l4, and depending noses 24, may be used in the combination of my invention, and, indeed, the spring 23 may entirely be omitted and the depending nose 24 formed directly as part of the sliding member [6.

It also will be obvious that other changes and variations may be resorted to in the details of construction and in the combinations of my device, and I want it to be understood that I reserve my rights to all such variations and changes which are within the spirit of this specification and the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

One of such changes may consist in making my device, so to say, double acting, that is providing a second frame element II at the opposite side of frame element l0, making the rail l4 wider to overhang said second frame element II, and providing a second slot l9 and a second depending nose 24 for said second element H, as will be understood.

What I claim as new, is:

1. To releasably fasten together two elongated elements, normally in close parallelism with one another, a channel in one element, having a longitudinal slot in a wall thereof, a sliding member in said channel, a first nose, traveling with and secured to said sliding member and projecting therefrom through said slot, an upstanding second nose on the other one of said two elements, said first nose in its travel being adapted to engage said second nose and thereby secure the two elements to one another or to disengage the same and release said elements, a spring device in said sliding member, said spring slidably engaging a Wall of said channel to steady the movement of said sliding member and to movably fix it in its various positions, said first nose being a part of said spring.

2. To releasably fasten together two elongated elements, normally in close parallelism with one another, a channel in one element, having a longitudinal slot in its bottom, a sliding member in said channel, a first nose traveling with and secured to said sliding member and depending therefrom through said slot, an upstanding second nose on the other one of said two elements, its upper edge being below the bottom of said channel when said elements are closed on one another, said first nose in its travel being adapted to engage said second nose and thereby secure the two elements to one another or to disengage the same and release said elements, said sliding member having a wider base portion to slidably but substantially fill out a part of said channel, a shank portion projecting over said base and through the mouth of said channel to provide a grip for said sliding member, said sliding member having a recess in its bottom, and a curved fiat spring inserted into said recess, the lowest part of said spring engaging the bottom of said channel, and an extension on said spring substantially perpendicular to its curved surface to form said first mentioned nose.

JAMES H. ARKUS. 

